Method and apparatus for orientating an annular element such as a flange of a pour spout fitment

ABSTRACT

An orientating apparatus for a pour spout fitment ( 4 ) having an annular flange ( 4 F) comprises a mounting device for supporting the fitment ( 4 ), a follower ( 22 ), a drive arrangement arranged to produce relative rotary motion, about an axis, between the mounting device and the follower ( 22 ), a biassing device arranged to urge the follower ( 22 ) towards the mounting device, and a detection device arranged to detect relative movement between the mounting device and the follower ( 22 ) under the action of the biassing device and allowed by a notch ( 4 G) in the flange ( 4 F) and thereby to cause the drive arrangement to stop the relative rotary motion and to orientate the fitment ( 4 ).

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for orientating an annular element, for example a flange of a pour spout of a pour spout fitment.

Two- and three-part pour spout fitments of thermoplastics are known for applying to liquid packaging cartons comprised of plastics-coated paperboard. To facilitate assembling of the parts during or immediately after moulding thereof, it is known to provide, in the outer peripheries of flanges of pour spouts of the fitments, respective notches for use in orientating the pour spouts relative to the other parts of the fitments for correct assembling. The assembled fitments are subsequently supplied loosely to hoppers at packaging machines, for example filling machines, whence they are fed by way of chutes to fitment applicators of the machines. Certain designs of fitments need to be orientated for correct application to the respective cartons.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising producing pressing force between a member and the outer periphery of an annular element, producing relative rotary motion, about the axis of said element and between said element and said member in contact with said periphery, until said periphery allows or causes relative movement between said element and said member towards or away from said axis, detecting said relative movement, and thereupon ceasing said producing of said relative rotary motion, thereby to orientate said element.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a mounting device for supporting an annular element, a follower member, a drive arrangement serving to produce relative rotary motion, about an axis, between said mounting device and said member, a biassing device arranged to urge one of said mounting device and said member towards the other transversely of said axis, and a detection device arranged to detect relative movement between said mounting device and said member under the action of said biassing device and thereupon to cause said drive arrangement to stop said relative rotary motion, thereby to orientate said element.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising supplying a pour spout fitment, producing pressing force between a follower and an annular surface of said fitment, producing relative rotary motion, about the axis of said surface and between said surface and said follower in contact with said surface, until said surface allows or causes relative movement between said member and said surface transversely of said relative rotary motion, detecting that the latter relative movement has been allowed or caused, thereupon ceasing said producing of said relative rotary motion, and thereafter applying the thereby orientated fitment to a container.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a device for supplying a pour spout fitment having an annular surface, a mounting device for supporting said fitment, a follower, a drive arrangement arranged to produce relative rotary motion, about an axis, between said mounting device and said follower, a biassing device arranged to urge one of said mounting device and said follower towards the other, and a detection device arranged to detect relative movement between said mounting device and said follower under the action of said biassing device and thereby to cause said drive arrangement to stop said relative rotary motion.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to orientate annular elements, in particular flanges of pour spouts of pour spout fitments, identically to each other in preparation for further handling or processing thereof.

In order that the invention may be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view from above of part of a form-fill-seal packaging machine;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan of a modified version of that part; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a unit included in that part.

Referring to FIG. 1, the machine part shown includes a vertical chute 2, by way of which per se known pour spout fitments 4 are fed vertically to an escapement 6 having a singulating position 8, an orientating position 9 and a transfer position 10, whence they are transferred, one-by-one, to a recess in the active end of an ultrasonic horn or to a fitment holder of a hot seal system, for application to the outside of a carton, so that each fitment 4, as it is received in the transfer position 10, is expelled therefrom by a piston-and-cylinder transfer device 12 into the recess in the ultrasonic horn or onto the fitment holder. Each fitment 4 comprises a screw cap 4A connected by tamper-evident bridges 4B to a ring 4C which encircles a pour spout 4D having an external screwthreading which co-operates with internal screwthreading of the cap 4A, external projections 4E of the spout 4D which engage among the tamper-evident bridges 4B, and an annular, end flange 4F formed with an orientation notch 4G at a location around the periphery thereof. The orientation notch 4G has already been employed in orientating the pour spout 4D relative to the screw cap 4A during assembly of the fitment 4. At the orientating position 9 in the escapement 6 is a cup-form plunger 14 which is of an internally frusto-conical form at its leading end and which is displaced from a retracted position, where it is out of the path of dropping of a fitment 4 from the singulating position 8, into an advanced position in which its frusto-conical surface centres the fitment 4 relative to the axis of the plunger 14. The corresponding reciprocatory motion of the plunger 14 is indicated by the double-headed arrow 16 and produced by a fluidic, piston-and-cylinder driving device 18. Singulating at the position 8 is achieved by means of per se known, horizontally reciprocatory rods 20. Extending substantially parallelly to the axis of the plunger 14 and biassed radially inwards with respect to the axis of the plunger 14 is a pin 22. The outer end of the pin 22 is movable (by means not shown) radially inwardly and outwardly relative to that axis, as indicated by the double arrow 24.

In operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, following dropping of a fitment 4 from the singulating position 8 to the orientating position 9, where a pin (not shown) onto which the fitment 4 drops and which prevents the fitment from falling into the transfer position 10 retains the fitment, the plunger 14 and the pin 22 are advanced to centre the screw cap 4A of the fitment 4 externally in the internal frusto-conical surface of the item 14 and to bring the pin 22 to bear upon the external periphery of the flange 4F. By means of a motor 26, the plunger 14 is rotated about its own axis until the outer end of the pin 22 drops radially inwardly into the notch 4G, so signalling to a control system that the particular fitment 4 has been correctly orientated before being dropped into the transfer position 10. Following the outer end of the pin 22 entering that notch 4G (or upon its immediately entering that notch when the outer end of the pin 22 moves radially inwardly), the plunger 14, the pin 22 and the pin (not shown) against which the fitment bears downwardly in the orientating position 9 are withdrawn, so that the orientated fitment can drop into the transfer position 10 so that, when it is applied to the recess in the horn, it is correctly orientated for being applied to the exterior of a packaging carton.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the version shown in these Figures could be considered to be a clearer development of the apparatus shown more diagrammatically in FIG. 1. In this version, the pin 22 is shown to be in the character of a lever-form latch 22′ mounted on a pivot 28 and urged towards the fitment 4 by a helical compression spring 30 acting between a mounting bracket 32 and the latch 22′. One end 22 a of the latch 22′ is of a wedge form so that movement of the bracket 32 towards the chute 2 under the action of the device 18 causes the end 22 a to ride onto the outer periphery of the flange 4D of the fitment 4. The opposite end 22 b of the latch 22′ is associated with an inductive sensor 34, such that, upon the end 22 a dropping into the notch 4G, the sensor 34 transmits that information to the control system. As the device 18 moves the latch 22′ towards the chute 2, it also carries with it the plunger 14, which has not only a frusto-conical centering surface 14 a but also pressure-equalisation holes 14 b in the base of the cup-form plunger 14 to prevent retention of the fitment 4 therein by a vacuum effect and thereby to prevent the plunger 14 from pulling the fitment out of the chute 2. The motor 26 which serves to rotate the plunger 14 is connected thereto by a key arrangement 36 permitting actual sliding movement of the plunger 14 relative to the motor 26. In this version, instead of the fitment 4 in the orientating position 9 being supported from below by an escapement pin, it is retained in that position by being pressed against laterally by a pin 38 reciprocable by means of a fluidic piston-and-cylinder device 40.

Among the advantages of the system described with reference to the drawings is that the per se known notch 4G used for orientation during assembly of the fitment 4 can be used also for orientation prior to application to a carton. 

1-29. (canceled)
 30. A method comprising supplying a pour spout fitment, producing pressing force between a follower and an annular surface of said fitment, producing relative rotary motion, about the axis of said surface and between said surface and said follower in contact with said surface, until said surface allows or causes relative movement between said follower and said surface transversely of said relative rotary motion, detecting that the latter relative movement has been allowed or caused, thereupon ceasing said producing of said relative rotary motion, and thereafter applying the thereby orientated fitment to a container.
 31. A method according to claim 30, and further comprising, before said producing pressing force, displacing said fitment to an orientating location, said producing pressing force, said producing relative rotary motion, said detecting and said ceasing being performed while said fitment is at said orientating location.
 32. A method according to claim 31, and further comprising, before said displacing said fitment to said orientating location, displacing said fitment to a singulating location wherein said fitment is singulated relative to another fitment substantially identical to the first-mentioned fitment.
 33. A method according to claim 30, wherein said producing said relative rotary motion is until said periphery allows movement of said follower towards said axis.
 34. Apparatus comprising a device for supplying a pour spout fitment having an annular surface, a mounting device for supporting said fitment, a follower, a drive arrangement arranged to produce relative rotary motion, about an axis, between said mounting device and said follower, a biassing device arranged to urge one of said mounting device and said follower towards the other, and a detection device arranged to detect relative movement between said mounting device and said follower under the action of said biassing device and thereby to cause said drive arrangement to stop said relative rotary motion.
 35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said follower has a leading end of a wedge form whereby relative movement between said follower and said fitment in a direction of said axis causes said leading end to ride onto an outer periphery of said surface.
 36. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said detection device comprises an inductive sensor associated with said follower.
 37. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said drive arrangement comprises a plunger substantially co-axial with said axis and turnable about said axis.
 38. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said plunger is of cupped form for receiving the exterior of a screw cap of a pour spout fitment of which said surface is of a flange of a pour spout thereof.
 39. Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said cupped form is of a frustoconical form which widens forwardly.
 40. Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said cupped form has pressure-equalisation holes between the interior and the exterior thereof.
 41. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said mounting device is at an escapement having, in turn descending downwardly, a singulating location for said fitment, an orientating location for said fitment and a transfer location for said fitment, said mounting device, said follower, said drive arrangement, said biassing device and said detection device being effective in relation to said element at said orientating location.
 42. Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said mounting device comprises an escapement pin.
 43. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said mounting device comprises a laterally acting, reciprocable pin.
 44. A method comprising producing pressing force between a member and the outer periphery of an annular element, producing relative rotary motion, about the axis of said element and between said element and said member in contact with said periphery, until said periphery allows or causes relative movement between said element and said member towards or away from said axis, detecting said relative movement, and thereupon ceasing said producing of said relative rotary motion, thereby to orientate said element.
 45. A method according to claim 44, and further comprising, before said producing pressing force, displacing said element to an orientating location, said producing pressing force, said producing relative rotary motion, said detection and said ceasing being performed while said annular element is at said orientating location.
 46. A method according to claim 45, and further comprising, before said displacing said element to said orientating location, displacing said element to a singulating location wherein said element is singulated relative to another element substantially identical to the first-mentioned annular element.
 47. Apparatus comprising a mounting device for supporting an annular element, a follower member, a drive arrangement serving to produce relative rotary motion, about an axis, between said mounting device and said member, a biassing device arranged to urge one of said mounting device and said member towards the other transversely of said axis, and a detection device arranged to detect relative movement between said mounting device and said member under the action of said biassing device and thereupon to cause said drive arrangement to stop said relative rotary motion, thereby to orientate said element.
 48. Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said member has a leading end of a wedge form whereby relative movement between said member and said element in a direction of said axis causes said leading end to ride onto an outer periphery of said element.
 49. Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said detection device comprises an inductive sensor associated with said member. 